Graeme McDowell pulls out of Open qualifying because his clubs didn’t make it to Manchester

G-Mac is facing an uphill battle to make it to the British Open now.

The 38-year-old Portrush golfer hasn't been in top form over the last while and that's why he has to face into qualifier events like these. The 2010 US Open champion hasn't hit those same heights since and that's why he's dropped from ranked 4th in the world in 2011 to ranked 177th now. The Northern Irish man didn't gain automatic qualification to the third major of the year, the British Open, due to take place in Carnoustie and that's why he was supposed to be in St Anne's Old Links in Lancashire. With six places up for grabs in the open amongst a field of relatively unknown golfers, McDowell would have held high hopes of finishing within that parameter and booking his spot in the Open which goes to tee on July 19. Instead, however, he won't swing a golf club on Tuesday. That's because on the back of his 37th place finish in the French Open last weekend, Air France mishandled his clubs in transit and they didn't make it to Manchester. First of all, G-Mac put out a call for help. https://twitter.com/Graeme_McDowell/status/1013717548716711936 Doubts were raised. https://twitter.com/Graeme_McDowell/status/1013835219256987649 Fair. https://twitter.com/Graeme_McDowell/status/1013835686389088257 Brandon Poynter siad what was on everybody's lips when he asked if McDowell could just hire another set of clubs... https://twitter.com/Graeme_McDowell/status/1013836274543808512 And now, he's gone. https://twitter.com/Graeme_McDowell/status/1013897732673753089?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1013897732673753089&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.the42.ie%2Fgraeme-mcdowell-set-to-miss-open-qualifying-after-clubs-go-missing-4105120-Jul2018%2F McDowell's chances of making the Open are a lot slimmer now than they were 24 hours ago as he'll be relying on a high finish at the Irish Open in Ballyliffin next week. It's fairly depressing that his major participation may have been ceased due to a bloody airport malfunction.